The United States and Latin America and the Caribbean. Highlights of economics and trade

Transcription

1 The United States and Latin America and the Caribbean Highlights of economics and trade

2 Alicia Bárcena Executive Secretary Antonio Prado Deputy Executive Secretary Osvaldo Rosales Chief, Division of International Trade and Integration Ricardo Pérez Chief, Documents and Publications Division The preparation of this document, which has not been subject to editorial revision, was the responsibility of Osvaldo Rosales, Director of the Division of International Trade and Integration of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC). The following staff members of the Division participated in the preparation of this report: Mariano Alvarez, José Elías Durán, Myriam Echeverría, Sebastián Herreros, Mikio Kuwayama, José Carlos Mattos and Dayna Zaclicever. Input on trade facilitation was provided by Inés Bustillo, Raquel Artecona and Fernando Flores of the Commission s country office in Washington, D.C. Inputs on foreign direct investment were provided by Mario Cimoli and Miguel Pérez from the Division of Production, Productivity and Management. LC/G.2489 March 211 United Nations Printed in Santiago, Chile

3 The United States and Latin America and the Caribbean: highlights of economics and trade Foreword This publication is a contribution by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) to the analysis of trade and investment relations between the United States of America and Latin America and the Caribbean, on the occasion of the visit of President Barack Obama to Brazil, Chile and El Salvador in March 211. The early years of this new decade have brought good news for Latin America and the Caribbean. The region weathered the international crisis with unprecedented resilience and emerged from it sooner and more strongly than the developed economies. It grew by 6% in 21, and is expected to grow by over 4% in 211. The region s economic reforms of past decades, its fiscal and macroeconomic prudence and its sound financial supervision, together with ever closer commercial ties with China and other emerging economies, have allowed it not only to successfully navigate through the worst international crisis of the past 8 years but also to enter the new decade with a promising outlook for growth and advances in quality of life. For the first time in its history, the region achieved during the past decade a combination of high growth, macroeconomic stability, poverty reduction and improvement in income distribution. On the strength of the foregoing and of its privileged endowment in natural resources, energy, water and biodiversity, the Latin American and Caribbean region will be called upon to assume an increasingly larger role in the global economy. At Davos and other specialized forums, it has been said that this could be the decade of the Latin American and Caribbean region and that, with regard to global economic recovery, the region is today firmly part of the solution. The region s resilience to, and strong recovery from, the international financial crisis have renewed the interest of the European Union in strengthening linkages with it. At the same time, the Asia-Pacific region particularly the People s Republic of China has become a privileged trading partner for Latin America and the Caribbean. These closer trade and investment links have been both a cause for and a result of the increasing number of trade agreements already in force or under negotiation that link various countries of the region with the European Union and Asia-Pacific. 3

4 Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) In this context of special opportunities and diversification of trading partners, the share of the United States of America in the region s trade has been shrinking. More importantly, there is a perception in Latin America and the Caribbean that the United States lacks strategic vision vis-à-vis the region. In past decades, the Alliance for Progress, the Initiative for the Americas and, later, the Free Trade Area of the Americas (with which ECLAC, the Inter-American Development Bank and the Organization of American States collaborated through the Tripartite Committee) were all ambitious United States initiatives for regional cooperation. Today no such initiatives exist. Despite recent improvements on many fronts, the Latin American and Caribbean region faces some formidable structural challenges. It still has the highest indices of inequality in the world, as well as serious lags in technology, innovation and competitiveness. Nevertheless, the region, together with its main partners, is approaching these challenges as opportunities for new partnerships that promote growth and development through increased trade and investment. The United States can and should be an active partner of the region in this endeavour. The visit of President Obama to three Latin American countries provides the United States with a unique opportunity to revitalize hemispheric relations. It could do so by presenting proposals for a strategic dialogue and for new hemispheric initiatives in trade and investment to strengthen cooperation between the United States and the region. Alicia Bárcena Executive Secretary Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) 4

5 The United States and Latin America and the Caribbean: highlights of economics and trade 1. Across the world, there is a renewed interest in strengthening trade, investment and cooperation linkages with Latin America and the Caribbean. However, the United States is lacking a strategic vision towards the region The region s resilience to the recent world crisis and its positive growth prospects are among the reasons behind the renewed interest of the European Union in strengthening linkages with it. This interest is evidenced by the recently concluded association agreements with Central America, Colombia and Peru, and CARIFORUM. These come in addition to existing accords with Mexico and Chile, and the relaunch of negotiations for a similar agreement with the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR). A key development of the past decade was the emergence of the Asia-Pacific region, and China in particular, as a privileged trading partner of Latin America and the Caribbean. Before the middle of the present decade, China could replace the European Union as the region s second largest trading partner. Accordingly, several countries in the region have concluded, or are negotiating, free trade and association agreements with partners such as China, Japan and the Republic of Korea, among others. Against this background, the share of the United States of America in the region s trade has been shrinking. Its share of the region s imports dropped from 55% in 2 to 32% in 29; and as a destination market for the region s exports, its share fell from 61% to 42% during the same period. There is a perceived lack of strategic vision on the part of the United States vis-à-vis the region. In past decades, the Alliance for Progress, the Initiative for the Americas and, later, the Free Trade Area of the Americas project were all ambitious United States initiatives for regional cooperation. Today, no equivalent to those initiatives exists. Figure 1 Latin America and the Caribbean: share of selected partners in total trade, 2-22 a (Percentages) United States China A. Exports 38.6 European Union United States European Union China B. Imports Source: Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), on the basis of information from the United Nations COMTRADE Database and national sources. a Projections from 211 to 22 are based on GDP growth rates for the years 2-21 in Asia-Pacific, China, the European Union, Latin America and the Caribbean, the United States and the rest of the world. The growth rate of trade is expected to converge with the economies long-term growth rate. 5

6 Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) 2. Over the last decade, the United States lost ground among the world s top goods exporters, and is now ranked third after China and Germany. In services, it is still the world s largest exporter Figure 2 Main world exporters of goods and services A. Goods (Billions of dollars and percentages of world merchandise exports) 2 29 United States Total: United States Total: Germany 9 Germany 9 Other 47 Netherlands 3 Italy 4 China 4 Japan 8 France 5 United Kingdom 4 Canada 4 Other 51 Rep. of Korea 3 Belgium 3 France 4 Italy 3 China 1 Japan 5 Netherlands 4 B. Sevices (Billions of dollars and percentages of world services exports) 2 29 United States United States Total: Total: China 2 Canada 2 Belgium 3 Other 36 Hong Kong (SAR of China) 3 Netherlands 4 France 6 United Kingdom 7 Germany 5 Japan 5 Italy 4 Spain 4 Other 51 Ireland 3% Spain 4 Italy 3 United Kingdom 7 Germany 6 France 4 China 4 Japan 4 Source: World Trade Organization (WTO). 6

7 The United States and Latin America and the Caribbean: highlights of economics and trade 3. The degree of trade openness of the United States remains very low Exports (goods and services) account for 11% of GDP in the United States, less than half of the world average of 27% in 29. This coefficient has been stagnant for three decades in the United States, comparing quite unfavourably with those of its main competitors, such as China and Germany, whose exports-to-gdp ratios have risen substantially over the years. Regionally speaking, Latin America and the Caribbean has doubled its trade openness over the last four decades, to reach a level similar to the world average. The still relatively low regional coefficient has been influenced heavily by Brazil, the region s largest economy, which represents over one third of regional GDP. Among the three Latin American countries visited by President Obama (Brazil, Chile and El Salvador), Chile stands out: its exports-to-gdp ratio reached almost 45% before the international financial crisis. The recent international financial crisis has heavily dampened international trade and, as a result, has reduced trade openness coefficients across the world. Figure 3 Share of exports (goods and services) in GDP, selected economies and regions, (Percentages calculated at nominal prices) United States European Union Latin America and the Caribbean China World Source: Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), on the basis of World Bank World Development Indicators, Table 1 Share of exports (goods and services) in GDP, selected economies and regions, selected years (Percentages calculated at nominal prices) United States China Germany European Union East Asia and the Pacific (developing) Latin America and the Caribbean Brazil Chile El Salvador World Source: Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), on the basis of World Bank World Development Indicators, 21. 7

8 Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) 4. Most United States firms do not export. More than two thirds of United States exports originate from large firms, though there are many SME exporters According to the United States Department of Commerce, only 4% of United States firms exported in 28; those identified (288,5 out of some 6 million firms) accounted for US$ 1.1 trillion of exports. By employment size, firms with more than 5 employees accounted for 2.5% of United States exporting firms and 69% of United States exports. On the other hand, SME exporters (those employing fewer than 5 workers, including those in which the number of employees is unknown) comprised over 97% of all identified exporters and accounted for 31% of the export value in 28. During 28, only 1% (28,2 exporting firms) of all identified exporters were multiple location companies, and these companies accounted for 76% of the known export value. Trade with Related Parties trade between United States firms and their subsidiaries abroad accounted for 36% of the export value. The larger the number of employees, the greater is the degree of related-party export transactions, a good indicator of intra-firm trade. Figure 4 United States: breakdown of exporting firms by employment size, 28 (Share in total number of exporting firms) 1 to to to to or more 2 1 to 19 employees 39 Number of employees unknown 35 Source: United States Census Bureau News, A profile of U.S. Exporting Companies, 27-28, United States Department of Commerce, April 13, 21. Figure 5 United States: share in export value by exporting-firm employment size, 28 (Share in total exports of exporting firms) Figure 6 Share of related party-exports in total exports, by exporting-firm employment size, 28 a (Percentages of total exports) 5 or more 69 Number of employees unknown 8 1 to 19 employees 7 2 to to to to All identified companies 5 or more 25 to to to 99 2 to 49 1 to 19 employees Number of employees unknown Source: United States Census Bureau News, A profile of U.S. Exporting Companies, 27-28, United States Department of Commerce, April 13, Source: United States Census Bureau News, A profile of U.S. Exporting Companies, 27-28, United States Department of Commerce, April 13, 21. a Related-party trade includes trade by United States companies with their subsidiaries abroad as well as trade by United States subsidiaries of foreign companies with their parent companies.

9 The United States and Latin America and the Caribbean: highlights of economics and trade 5. Despite the severe crisis of 28-29, the United States has been a very dynamic economy in the past 3 years Over the past 3 years, net exports have generally made a negative contribution to United States GDP growth, reflecting persistent current account deficits. In the same period, the most important engine of growth has been personal consumption. The recent world economic crisis reversed this pattern transitorily through a reduction in the United States current account deficit. The positive contribution of the net export component to GDP growth shows the reduction in the United States import propensity between 27 and 29 as a consequence of the crisis. United States private consumption has been financed by an increasing level of foreign indebtedness. This pattern is unsustainable in the medium term. Within this context, net exports need to make a larger contribution to the country s GDP growth. Figure 7 United States: GDP annual growth rate, (Percentages) Source: International Monetary Fund (IMF); World Economic Outlook, October % Figure 8 United States: contribution to GDP growth by expenditure component, (Percentages) Personal consumption Net exports Gross private investment Government consumption Source: Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), on the basis of United States Bureau of Economic Analysis. 9

10 Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) 6. Low private savings rates and spiralling public and private debt have made the United States heavily dependent on external finance. Trade is the most efficient way to address this issue Over the last five years, the United States current account deficit has been, on average, slightly over 5% of GDP. This gap represents the amount of foreign borrowing that the United States has to obtain from the rest of the world each year. The United States net international debt position at the end of 29 was US$ 2.7 trillion, equivalent to 19% of its GDP. This is a significant improvement over the corresponding figures for 28 (US$ 3.5 trillion or 24% of DGP). The United States net debtor position has deteriorated since 2, rising at a rate of 23% a year, more than four times the annual GDP growth rate on a nominal basis. There are several ways to reduce United States dependence on foreign capital: (i) an increase in national saving rates; (ii) a reduction of household debts; (iii) printing more money to pay off the debt; and (iv) an increase in net exports. Under the present economic scenario, the only feasible option without negatively affecting the welfare of United States families is the last one. In this manner, the United States economy would be creating high-quality jobs with wage levels sufficient to raise the standard of living of workers and their families, while strengthening its leadership role in innovation. It should be recalled that United States median income, which more than doubled between 1947 and 1973, increased by less than 25% between 1973 and 24. Therefore, President Obama s proposal to double United States exports in five years is a step in the right direction. Nevertheless, it remains unclear how this goal is being translated into specific policies. Figure 9 United States: current account balance (Percentages of GDP) Source: United States Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis. Figure 1 United States: international investment position, (Percentages of GDP) Source: United States Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis. 1

11 The United States and Latin America and the Caribbean: highlights of economics and trade 7. China is the largest source of the overall United States trade deficit. The United States also has a trade deficit with Latin America and the Caribbean, which is largely accounted for by Mexico The United States trade deficit (goods and services), which peaked in 26 (at over US$ 7 billion), fell to US$ 375 billion dollars in 29 and is estimated to have increased once again to US$ 496 billion in 21 (US$ 379 billion during the first three quarters of that year) in the aftermath of the international financial crisis. The largest contributor to this deficit has been the People s Republic of China, which accounted for more than US$ 2 billion of the deficit, both before (23-28) and after the crisis. Other large sources of this deficit are OPEC member countries. The deficits with the European Union, Canada and Asia-Pacific countries (excluding China) are beginning to narrow. The United States has maintained a deficit with Latin America and the Caribbean for the past 8 years, mainly arising from the country s trade with Mexico. In contrast to the period before the crisis, the United States has registered a surplus with the rest of Latin America and the Caribbean since 29. For instance, the United States has begun to post trade surpluses with countries such as Brazil and Argentina. Figure 11 United States: trade deficit (goods and services) with selected trade partners, a (Billions of dollars) a European Union Latin America and the Caribbean Asia and the Pacific, excluding China China Source: United States Department of Commerce. a Figures for 21 correspond to the first three quarters of the year. Canada Other Figure 12 United States: trade deficit (goods and services) with Mexico and the rest of Latin America and the Caribbean (Millions of dollars) Latin America and the Caribbean (excluding Mexico) Source: United States Department of Commerce. Mexico 11

12 Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) 8. Latin America and the Caribbean accounts for one fifth of total United States trade In the past two decades, United States trade with Latin American and Caribbean countries has grown faster than the country s trade with most of its main partners, except for China. Latin America and the Caribbean as a whole is currently the largest United States export market, slightly ahead of Asia. Table 2 United States: breakdown of trade by main regions and countries (198-21) and annual growth rate of trade flows (199-21) (Share in total United States trade and annual growth rates) Exports Imports Total trade Region/country (annual growth rate) Canada Latin America and the Caribbean European Union Asia China Japan Rest of the world Canada Latin America and the Caribbean European Union Asia China Japan Rest of the world Canada Latin America and the Caribbean European Union Asia China Japan Rest of the world Source: Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), on the basis of COMTRADE database. 12

13 The United States and Latin America and the Caribbean: highlights of economics and trade 9. The share of the United States in regional trade remains high despite a marked decline in the last decade The fall in the United States share in total Latin American and Caribbean trade is partially mirrored by the increase in China s share. Intraregional trade has also acquired a larger share of total Latin American and Caribbean trade, as has trade with other developing regions. As a consequence, South-South trade has become relatively more important in total Latin American and Caribbean trade Figure 13 Latin America and the Caribbean: share of the United States, China, European Union and the rest of Asia in the region s exports and imports (Percentages) A. Exports B. Imports Rest of Asia China United States European Union Source: COMTRADE, CEPALSTAT and DOTs (for China, 198 and 1983). Note: the rest of Asia includes the Philippines, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Republic of Korea, Singapore and Thailand. 13

14 Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) 1. The United States is a particularly important trading partner for Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean Figure 14 Latin American and Caribbean countries: share of the United States in total trade, 2 and 29 (Percentages) A. Exports B. Imports Mexico Dominican Rep. Honduras El Salvador Panama Guatemala Venezuela (Bol. Rep. of) Latin America and the Caribbean Colombia The Caribbean Ecuador Nicaragua Costa Rica Peru Chile Brazil Bolivia (Plur. State of) Argentina Uruguay Paraguay Mexico Dominican Rep. Guatemala El Salvador Honduras The Caribbean Costa Rica Latin America and the Caribbean Panama Colombia Venezuela (Bol. Rep. of) Nicaragua Peru Chile Ecuador Brazil Argentina Bolivia (Plur. State of) Uruguay Paraguay 2 29 Source: Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), on the basis of COMTRADE database. 14

15 The United States and Latin America and the Caribbean: highlights of economics and trade 11. Trade between the United States and Latin America and the Caribbean is concentrated in a few countries Mexico alone accounts almost for two thirds of total United States imports from the region. The combined share of Mexico and the MERCOSUR countries is 75%. The largest share of exports in GDP is found in Mexico and the Caribbean and Central American countries. Those Latin American and Caribbean countries most dependent on the United States market were the ones that experienced the largest declines in GDP during the recent world economic crisis (see table 3). Figure 15 United States: breakdown of imports from Latin America and the Caribbean by origin, 1995 and 21 (Percentage share in total) 21 Caribbean countries Venezuela 4 (Bol. Rep. of) 9 Chile 2 Andean Community Caribbean countries Venezuela 2 (Bol. Rep. of) 1 Chile 2 Andean Community 7 MERCOSUR 8 Central America 6 Mexico 63 MERCOSUR 11 Central America 2 Mexico 66 Source: Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), on the basis of information from the United Nations Commodity Trade Database (COMTRADE) and USITC trade data for the case of 21. Table 3 Latin America and the Caribbean (selected countries and subregions): annual GDP growth, (Percentages) Country / subregion Mexico Central America a Caribbean a South America a Latin America and the Caribbean a Source: Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC). a Weighted average. Figure 16 Latin America and the Caribbean (selected countries and subregions): share of exports to the United States in total GDP, 29 (Percentages) Mexico The Caribbean Central America Latin America and the Caribbean 5.1 Chile 3.9 Andean countries Source: Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC). 1.2 MERCOSUR 15

16 Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) 12. Latin American exports to the United States have recovered after the crisis, with the exceptions of Argentina and Uruguay. The recovery has reached all the main export sectors, but it has been stronger in the case of mining and manufactures Table 4 Latin America and the Caribbean: annual growth rate of exports to the United States (Percentages) Countries Agriculture Mining Manufactures Total exports Argentina Bolivia (Plurinational State of) Brazil Chile Colombia Costa Rica Ecuador El Salvador Guatemala Honduras Mexico Nicaragua Paraguay Peru Dominican Republic Uruguay Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) Latin America and the Caribbean Source: USITC Trade database online

17 The United States and Latin America and the Caribbean: highlights of economics and trade 13. Latin America and the Caribbean s exports to the United States present a larger share of manufactures than the region s exports to the European Union and China Figure 17 Latin America and the Caribbean: breakdown of exports to selected partners by technological intensity, (Percentages of total exports) A. Latin America and the Caribbean (intraregional trade) B. United States C. European Union D. China Primary products Natural-resource-based manufactures Low-technology manufactures Medium-technology manufactures High-technology manufactures Source: Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), on the basis of COMTRADE database. 17

18 Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) 14. Of the Latin American and Caribbean countries, Mexico has the largest share of manufactures in its exports to the United States (82%). If Mexico is excluded, the share of primary products in the region s exports to the United States is much higher and has grown in the past decade Among the main manufacturing products exported by Mexico to the United States are vehicles and their parts, electrical appliances (TVs, radios, etc.), digital processing units, and so forth. Crude petroleum represents about 15% of Mexican exports to the United States. Figure 18 Mexico and the rest of Latin America and the Caribbean: breakdown of exports to the United States by technology intensity, (Percentages of total exports) A. Mexico B. Latin America and the Caribbean (excluding Mexico) Primary products Natural-resource-based manufactures Low-technology manufactures Medium-technology manufactures High-technology manufactures Source: Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), on the basis of COMTRADE database. 18

19 The United States and Latin America and the Caribbean: highlights of economics and trade 15. After Mexico, the Central American countries have the largest share of manufactures in their exports to the United States. At the other extreme, the exports from Andean countries are dominated by primary products Figure 19 Latin American and Caribbean subregions: breakdown of exports to the United States by technology intensity, (Percentages of total exports) A. MERCOSUR B. Andean countries (includes the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela) C. DR-CAFTA D. Caribbean countries Primary products Natural-resource-based manufactures Low-technology manufactures Medium-technology manufactures High-technology manufactures Source: Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), on the basis of COMTRADE database. 19

20 Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) 16. The United States traditionally posts a deficit in its merchandise trade with Latin America and the Caribbean. The largest deficit is with Mexico and Central America The United States trade deficit with Latin America and the Caribbean grew steadily during most of the past decade but fell in 29 as a result of the world economic crisis. As the United States economy began to recover, its trade deficit with Latin America grew again in 21. From the perspective of Latin America and the Caribbean, the trade surplus with the United States helps to offset the deficit with China and the rest of Asia. Figure 2 United States: exports, imports and trade balance with Latin America and the Caribbean, (Millions of dollars) A. Latin America and the Caribbean B. South America C. Mexico and Central America Trade balance Exports Imports Source: Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), on the basis of official figures from the United States International Trade Commission (USITC). 2

21 The United States and Latin America and the Caribbean: highlights of economics and trade 17. The United States occupies a prominent position as a trade partner for Latin American and Caribbean countries, especially as an import supplier Nevertheless, during the last decade the United States lost significance (in relative terms) as an export destination for all MERCOSUR countries. Moreover, it has been displaced by China as the top individual export destination for Chile and Peru. In the case of the Plurinational State of Bolivia, the United States has fallen from being its top export destination to the fourth most important. This is partially explained by the exclusion of the Plurinational State of Bolivia from the ATPA/ATPDEA benefits in 28. Concerning imports, the United States is not one of the top two suppliers for only three Latin American countries (the Plurinational State of Bolivia, Paraguay and Uruguay). Table 5 Latin America and the Caribbean: United States rank as a trade partner, South America Mexico and Central America MERCOSUR Andean Community CACM Source: COMTRADE database. Exports Imports Argentina Brazil Paraguay Uruguay Bolivia (Plurinational State of) Colombia Ecuador Peru Chile Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) Costa Rica El Salvador Guatemala Honduras Nicaragua Mexico Panama

22 Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) 18. On average, Latin American and Caribbean exports to the United States have become more concentrated in the last two decades. Nevertheless, there is a great heterogeneity among the countries of the region The two largest economies in the region, Brazil and Mexico, show the lowest concentration of exports to the United States. Moreover, their exports to that country have become less concentrated in the last two decades. At the other extreme are those economies whose exports to the United States are dominated by a few products, usually primary products like petroleum (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Ecuador and Colombia) and fish products (Panama). Figure 21 Latin American and Caribbean countries: Herfindahl-Hirschman index of exports to the United States, 199 and 29 (Calculated for exports according to SITC, Rev. 2 at the 3 digit level) IHH 29 =.18 IHH 199 =.12. Venezuela (Bol. Rep. of) Panama Ecuador Colombia More concentrated The Caribbean Uruguay El Salvador Honduras Chile Paraguay Nicaragua Bolivia (Plur. State of) Guatemala Peru Argentina Costa Rica Dominican Rep. Mexico Brazil Less concentrated IHH 199 IHH 29 Source: Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), on the basis of COMTRADE database. Note: The HHI shows the level of product diversification/concentration in a country s exports to another country. If HHI is below.1, exports are considered diversified. If HHI ranges from.1 to.18, exports are considered moderately concentrated, and if it is greater than.18, exports are considered very concentrated. 22

23 The United States and Latin America and the Caribbean: highlights of economics and trade 19. The share of the top five products in total exports to the United States ranges from 4% to 97% for Latin American and Caribbean countries, confirming the high concentration of their exports to that market It is worth noting that in the case of Mexico and DR-CAFTA member countries, most of the top five products are manufactures, like textiles and apparel, electronic equipment and medical instruments. Table 6 Latin American and Caribbean countries: share of top five products in total exports to the United States, by country, a (Percentages) Country 1st product 2nd product 3rd product 4th product 5th product All to 5 products Argentina Crude petroleum 23 Chemical products 7 Aluminium 6 Wine 4 Juices, not citrus Bolivia (Plurinational Tin 2 Gold or silver Crude petroleum 16 Silver 6 Other non-ferrous ore 5 State of) jewelry Brazil Crude petroleum 24 Pig iron 5 Aeroplanes Coffee 2 Chemical wood pulp 2 (> 15kg) Chile Copper 29 Grapes 1 Fish fillets 8 Fruit 7 Wine Colombia Crude petroleum 49 Coal, not Coffee 7 Flowers 6 Bananas 2 agglomerated Costa Rica Parts for office Medical instruments 12 Fruit 1 Bananas 6 Electronic machines 25 microcircuits Dominican Republic Medical instruments 13 Gold or silver jewelry 7 Switch apparatus 7 Cigars 7 Men s or boys cloth Ecuador Crude petroleum 75 Bananas 5 Crustaceans, frozen 4 Flowers 2 Cocoa beans El Salvador T-shirts 23 Jerseys & similar Monohydric alcohol 7 Underwear 6 Coffee 5 articles Guatemala Jerseys & similar Bananas 14 Coffee 1 Crude petroleum 8 Women s or girls articles 17 cloth Honduras Jerseys & similar T-shirts 15 Electrical dist. Bananas 5 Men s or boys cloth 4 articles 2 equipment Mexico Crude petroleum 16 Television receivers 9 Vehicles for persons 6 Parts for vehicles 4 Goods vehicles Nicaragua Jerseys & similar Electrical dist. T-shirts 1 Men s or boys cloth 1 Coffee 7 articles 19 equipment Panama Fish 25 Crustaceans, frozen 15 Sugars 9 Fruit 6 Coffee Paraguay Sugar 34 Plywood 9 Animal materials 7 Builders joinery 6 Sugars Peru Copper 18 Silver 9 Tin 7 Crude petroleum 6 Vegetables Uruguay Bovine meat, frozen 43 Bovine meat, frozen 5 Leather 5 Meat and offal 5 Edible offal Venezuela (Bolivarian Crude petroleum 93 Aluminium Pellets Monohydric alcohol Coal, not Republic of) agglomerated 96.8 Caribbean countries Natural gas 29 Other inorganic Monohydric alcohol 15 Crude petroleum 11 Pellets 4 bases Source: Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), on the basis of COMTRADE database. a The Caribbean countries include: Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Cuba, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago. 23

24 Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) 2. On average, Latin America and the Caribbean exports more products to the United States than to the European Union and Asia. Nevertheless, the highest number of products is exported to the region itself The universe of products within the Harmonized System is composed of 5,52 subheadings at the 6-digit level. This means that on average Latin America and the Caribbean exports to the United States about a quarter of that universe. By contrast, on average the region exports to China only 4% of the total existing subheadings, which underscores the extreme concentration of its exports to that market. Mexican exports to the United States are by far the most diversified, covering more than 8% of the product universe. They are followed by Brazil s (56%) and Colombia s (36%). Table 7 Latin American and Caribbean countries: number of products exported to selected markets, average (Calculated on Harmonized System at 6 digit level) United States European Union Latin America and the Caribbean Argentina Bolivia (Plurinational State of) Brazil Chile Colombia Costa Rica Dominican Republic Ecuador El Salvador Guatemala Honduras Mexico Nicaragua Panama Paraguay Peru Uruguay Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) The Caribbean Latin America and the Caribbean Source: Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), on the basis of COMTRADE database. Asia China 24

25 The United States and Latin America and the Caribbean: highlights of economics and trade 21. Bilateral trade flows between the United States and Latin American and Caribbean countries show potential to increase intra-industry trade Among Latin American and Caribbean countries, those that already have a high level of intraindustry trade with the United States are Mexico, Dominican Republic and Brazil. Table 8 Selected Latin American countries and the United States: intraindustry trade measured by Grubel and Lloyd index, weighted trade between (Calculated on bilateral trade between pairs of countries) Argentina Bolivia (Plurinational State of) Brazil Chile Colombia Costa Rica Dominican Republic Ecuador El Salvador Guatemala Honduras Mexico Nicaragua Panama Paraguay Peru Uruguay Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) Argentina Bolivia (Plurinational State of).4 Brazil.52.1 Chile Colombia Costa Rica Dominican Republic Ecuador El Salvador Guatemala Honduras Mexico Nicaragua Panama Paraguay Peru Uruguay Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) United States Source: Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), on the basis of COMTRADE database. Note: Intraindustry trade exists between two countries when they export products from the same industry to each other. The Grubel Lloyd Index measures intraindustrial trade. It is considered that a value above.33 means a high incidence of intraindustry trade (pink cells), and a value between.1 and.33 indicates potential intraindustry trade (yellow cells). 25

26 Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) 22. Most Latin American and Caribbean countries that have free trade agreements (FTAs) with the United States saw a dramatic increase in the share of their exports subject to preferences when those agreements entered into force In the case of Mexico and Chile, the region s longest-standing FTA partners with the United States, between 5% and 6% of their exports receive preferential treatment under those agreements. The general pattern is similar for the Central American countries and the Dominican Republic. However, Honduras and El Salvador show above-average utilization rate of the DR-CAFTA preferences, whereas Costa Rica s utilization rate is below average. Figure 22 Countries with FTA with United States: utilization of tariff preferences (Percentages of each partner s total exports to the United States) A. Bilateral FTAs Chile Mexico Peru B. DR CAFTA Costa Rica Dominican Rep. El Salvador Guatemala Honduras Nicaragua Source: Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), on the basis of United States International Trade Commission (USITC). 26

27 The United States and Latin America and the Caribbean: highlights of economics and trade 23. Unilateral preferences granted by the United States have been very important for some South American countries, especially the Andean countries and Paraguay In recent years the utilization rate of the ATPA/ATPDEA preferences has fallen dramatically due to both the exclusion of some countries from those programmes and their frequent interruptions. This highlights the importance of the prompt renewal of ATPDEA preferences, in a way that provides a more stable timeframe to beneficiary countries. Figure 23 Selected Latin American countries: utilization of United States unilateral tariff preferences schemes (Percentages of each partner s total exports to the United States) A. ATPA/ATPDEA Bolivia (Plur. State of) Colombia Ecuador Peru B. GSP Argentina Brazil Paraguay Uruguay Source: Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) on the basis of United States International Trade Commission (USITC). 27

28 Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) 24. Latin America and the Caribbean is an important United States partner for trade in services United States exports and imports in services reached US$ 518 billion and US$ 365 billion in 28, before falling by 7% and 8%, respectively, in 29. Europe remains the most important destination and origin of United States trade in services. During the second half of the last decade, Latin America and the Caribbean accounted for 18% and 2% of United States services exports and imports, respectively. However, these figures include some other Western Hemisphere territories. Among the emerging regions, Latin America and the Caribbean ranks second as a United States partner behind Asia-Pacific. Mexico, Brazil, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Argentina and Chile are the major destination countries. Figure 24 Evolution of United States services trade, -29 (Millions of dollars) Exports Source: United States Department of Commerce. Table 9 Shares of selected partners in United States trade in services, -29 (Millions of dollars and percentages) Exports Imports Imports Canada Europe Latin America and the Caribbean a South and Central America Argentina Brazil Chile Mexico Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) Other The Caribbean and other Western Hemisphere Africa Middle East Asia and the Pacific International organizations and unallocated All countries (percentages) (Millions of dollars) Source: United States Bureau of Economic Analysis. a Includes other Western Hemisphere economies (Bermuda, Cayman Islands, and the Netherlands Antilles among others).

29 The United States and Latin America and the Caribbean: highlights of economics and trade 25. The United States has accounted for roughly one third of all FDI flows into Latin America and the Caribbean over the last decade, and remains the largest individual foreign investor in the region Figure 25 Latin America and the Caribbean: FDI flows by origin (Percentages) A B C. 29 Latin America and the Caribbean 4 Other 9 Japan 2 Canada 3 Japan Latin America 2 Canada and the Caribbean 6 7 Other 1 Japan 5 Latin America and the Caribbean 1 Canada 7 European Union 29 United States 37 European Union 45 United States 32 European Union 43 Other 11 United States 38 Source: Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), on the basis of official figures. Table 1 Latin America and the Caribbean: cumulative FDI flows by origin, (Billions of dollars and percentages) Share in total European Union United States Latin America and the Caribbean Canada Japan Others Total Source: Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), on the basis of official figures. 29

30 Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) 26. Over the last decade, United States net FDI flows into the region have been more stable than those from the European Union. The relative importance of United States FDI varies widely across the region Figure 27 shows that those economies which are more oriented towards the United States market are also those for which United States FDI is relatively more important. This is especially the case of Mexico and the Central American and the Caribbean countries. By contrast, FDI from the European Union tends to be dominant among MERCOSUR countries. FDI flows into Latin America, the Caribbean and other Western Hemisphere economies represent about one fifth of total United States FDI abroad. Figure 26 Latin America and the Caribbean: FDI net flows by origin, (Index numbers 2=1) Table 11 Latin America and the Caribbean and other Western Hemisphere economies: share in total United States FDI, (Percentages) Latin America and the Caribbean and other Western Hemisphere Latin America and the Caribbean South America Argentina Brazil Chile Colombia Ecuador..... Peru Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) Mexico Central America Caribbean countries Other Western Hemisphere a Source: United States Bureau of Economic Analysis. a Includes Bermuda, United Kingdom Islands and the Netherland Antilles, among other territories European Union United States Total Source: Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), on the basis of official figures. Figure 27 Latin America and the Caribbean (selected countries): distribution of cumulative FDI flows by origin, (Percentages) Trinidad and Tobago Costa Rica Mexico Latin America and the Caribbean Dominican Rep. Chile Brazil Argentina United States European Union Other Source: Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), on the basis of official figures